Beijing Said Capable to Host Winter Olympics

(ATR) An IOC inspection team says Beijing is capable of hosting a successful Olympic Winter Games in 2022.

IOC Evaluation Commission leader Alexander Zhukov and IOC Olympic Games executive director Christophe Dubi made the declaration during a closing press conference after five days in China.

Strong government support and legacies from 2008 are cited as the reasons for the IOC confidence.

"The great passion that exists here for the Olympic Games has been inspiring," Zhukov said to a packed room of Chinese and international journalists.

"For this reason I am sure that - regardless of the outcome in July – your ambitious plans for the future of Beijing and the

development of winter sport in your country will be realized.

"From this visit we can see that your Games in 2008 have left a profound legacy," said Zhukov, IOC member and Russian NOC president. "We can see this legacy in the venues just outside this hotel, and in your plans to use many of those venues in 2022."

Unlikely as it might seem, Beijing, population 21 million, has a good chance to become the first city to stage both the Summer and Winter Olympics. It’s only rival in the race is Almaty, Kazakhstan. The two bids – both long shots at the start of the 2022 campaign more than a year ago -- are the only ones remaining from a field of half dozen other cities such as Oslo, which could not muster public support for a bid. The IOC will vote on a host July 31.

Zhukov said that Beijing is "cold enough" to host Winter Games. He said the potential lack of snow at the mountain venues 200 km north of the city will not be an issue with adequate snowmaking capabilities.

"It is the primary consideration for any Winter Olympic Games," Zhukov said. "It is cold enough in January and February to host events."

Zhukov has become one of the IOC experts on the Winter Games. Prior to his election as a member in 2013, Zhukov was deputy prime minister for Vladimir Putin, overseeing the bid from Sochi for the 2014 Winter Olympics. Eventually hebecame NOC president, closely involved with the organization of the first Winter Games for Russia.

Zhukov advised that 150 difficult questions regarding 15 themes were asked by the IOC team.

Regarding China’s minimal experience hosting international skiing events, Dubi said that it will be necessary to rely heavily on the international winter sport federations and their experts.

"The good thing about Agenda 2020 is that international federations will play a greater role in the future," Dubi said.

"Whichever city gets the Games will rely on their expertise. It’s important because it’s true that developing high level courses

that are respected by athletes and spectators is not a given."

Beijing 2022 leaders also addressed the media following the IOC news conference, once again emphasizing the themes of an

athlete-centered Games, sustainability and economical.

"Zhukov has clearly stated that after inspection tour that Beijing has the capability to host the 2022 Olympic Winter Games," said Beijing 2022 president Wang Anshun, mayor of Beijing.

Wang said that the IOC was "candid, objective and very honest," and that the bidding concept is in high compliance with Olympic Agenda 2020."

Only three purpose built competition venues will be constructed for 2022, while three will be developed whether Beijing wins its bid over Almaty. Six competition venues from 2008 will be used.

Wang advised that the IOC made suggestions, but no major venue changes are likely and only minor adaptations will be necessary.

There has been speculation that the men’s and women’s ice hockey venues will be switched, however no announcement was made during the news conferences.

Beijing will build a high speed railway link connecting the capital city with Zhangjiakou to be completed in 2019. Two expressways will also be constructed.

Despite the massive project, budgets for the 2022 Games were not disclosed and the IOC advised that costs of the train were not a concern as it is part of China’s national railway development program.

Additional topics addressed included Beijing air pollution and the IOC response regarding alleged human rights abuses in China.

A journalist advised of a recent incident in which Chinese police raided an anti-discrimination NGO in Beijing and

arrested five female activists.

"Obviously we have a mandate that non-discrimination is important and has to be enforced," Dubi said. "At the same

time what we have to focus on as an evaluation commission is the Games preparation and Games hosting.

"However, we’ve always been clear that we will engage in civil society and we do so with a number of NGO’s within the United Nations systems," Dubi said.

"When there is relevance to the Games and if it is something that it is in line with our values, we will definitely relay the messages to the organizers."

Chinese NOC president Liu Peng sent a strong message in his statements and responses regarding the growth of winter sport in China and its athletes.

"The bid will help the Winter Olympic movement to be better popularized with the largest population in the world."

The Chinese NOC leader advised that having competed in 10 Winter Olympic Games, China has won 53 medals.

He re-iterated that it will also inspire 300 million Chinese to participate in winter sports and recreational skiing.

"The evaluation visit has been successfully concluded and we will continue to step up our work for the final victory.

"If we can win the bid, it will truly ignite the passion for winter sports in China."

The IOC evaluation commission will release its assessment of Beijing and Almaty on June 1.

Written and reported in Beijing byBrian Pinelli.

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